2008/04/15 by Carola Förster, Carola Y. Förster · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Barrier Structure and Function Studies #Connexins and lens biology #Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s00418-008-0424-9
openalex publication_date 2008/04/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Tight junctions create a paracellular barrier in epithelial and endothelial cells protecting them from the external environment. Two different classes of integral membrane proteins constitute the tight junction strands in epithelial cells and endothelial cells, occludin and members of the claudin protein family. In addition, cytoplasmic scaffolding molecules associated with these junctions regulate diverse physiological processes like proliferation, cell polarity and regulated diffusion. In many diseases, disruption of this regulated barrier occurs. This review will briefly describe the molecular composition of the tight junctions and then present evidence of the link between tight junction dysfunction and disease.